diagram

1 of 2

noun

di·​a·​gram ˈdī-ə-ˌgram How to pronounce diagram (audio)
1
: a graphic design that explains rather than represents
especially : a drawing that shows arrangement and relations (as of parts)
2
: a line drawing made for mathematical or scientific purposes
diagrammable adjective
diagrammatic adjective
or less commonly diagrammatical
diagrammatically adverb

diagram

2 of 2

verb

diagrammed or diagramed ˈdī-ə-ˌgramd How to pronounce diagram (audio) ; diagramming or diagraming ˈdī-ə-ˌgra-miŋ How to pronounce diagram (audio)

transitive verb

: to represent by or put into the form of a diagram
diagram a sentence
diagram a football play

Examples of diagram in a Sentence

Noun a diagram of the nervous system This diagram shows how the clock operates. Verb The coach diagrammed the new play on the blackboard. The students were required to diagram a sentence.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The door plug is used to seal unused exits on planes and, according to a diagram released by the NTSB, is attached to the plane with a series of bolts, cables and stop pads. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 8 Jan. 2024 Jennifer Robbins holds up a diagram to a new owner of an electric bike, a 13-year-old who just got a Christmas gift that can reach speeds upward of 25 mph. Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 According to CrowdStrike’s 2024 State of Application Security Report, around three-quarters of companies still rely on manual documentation like visio diagrams to track their software stack. Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 To make an operation out of paper, the mathematicians designed a diagram of lines, called a crease pattern, that specifies where to fold the paper. Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 30 Jan. 2024 As denoted by the numbers in bold shown in the diagram above, the number of messages sent by the client (denoted by Snd in the client column) must equal the number of messages received by the server (denoted by Rcv in the server column). Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 19 Dec. 2023 On Friday, state police investigators testified about another red blood-like stain on a roll of paper towels on the kitchen counter and walked the jury through a diagram that mapped out evidence collection in the garage. Taylor Hartz, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2024 Although small, the exhibit includes behind-the-scenes photos, diagrams, and a partial recreation area outside. Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2024 The door plug is used to seal unused exits on planes and, according to a diagram released by the NTSB, is attached to the plane with a series of bolts, cables, hinges and stop pads. Sam Sweeney, ABC News, 8 Jan. 2024
Verb
In most classical schools, phonics reign, and students learn grammar by diagramming sentences. Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Nevada called timeout and diagrammed a play for 6-foot-6 guard Kenan Blackshear to back down his defender in the lane and shoot a fade-away jumper. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2024 As the production team showed the replay of Solomon’s grab, Madden drew over a freeze-frame of the play, diagramming how Solomon sprung open. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2024 Psychologists may claim to know, but there are no human feelings that can be easily diagrammed. Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 26 Jan. 2024 With its 228 optical sensors, the observatory at Lake Baikal (diagrammed at left) looks for the debris created when a neutrino collides with a hydrogen or oxygen nucleus in the water: a shower of new particles that triggers a cone of bluish light. Anil Ananthaswamy, Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010 Coach Brian Dutcher had diagrammed a play for Micah Parrish that didn’t work, and the ball was inbounded to Aguek Arop instead. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Dec. 2023 Opening the section is a tile from 17th-century Iznik, a major Ottoman ceramics center, that diagrams the Great Mosque in Mecca, with the Kaaba at its center. Vanessa H. Larson, Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2023 Bridges even diagrammed specific military maneuvers to help ISIS kill the most U.S. troops. Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 14 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diagram.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Greek diagramma, from diagraphein to mark out by lines, from dia- + graphein to write — more at carve

First Known Use

Noun

1619, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1785, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of diagram was in 1619

Dictionary Entries Near diagram

Cite this Entry

“Diagram.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diagram. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

diagram

1 of 2 noun
di·​a·​gram ˈdī-ə-ˌgram How to pronounce diagram (audio)
: a drawing, sketch, plan, or chart that makes something clearer or easier to understand
diagrammatic adjective
also diagrammatical
diagrammatically adverb

diagram

2 of 2 verb
diagrammed or diagramed
-ˌgramd
; diagramming or diagraming
-ˌgram-iŋ
: to represent by or put into the form of a diagram
diagram a sentence
diagrammed a football play

More from Merriam-Webster on diagram

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